annee

If you decide to not buy a ship internet package just watch where the crew go. Usually the first thing they do when they get off the ship is find WiFi close to the port.

A few years ago we did Alaska on Holland America. On cruises elsewhere Holland America is very fussy about MDR attire. They make men borrow ties and suit jackets if they don't have them on but that didn't happen once on the Alaska cruise. Most people dressed a lot more casual. We are going on Princess in two weeks and are not taking formal, just business casual for those nights. Alaska is the only cruise where I have worn jeans (black) to dinner. As others have said layers are the best. I wouldn't spend a lot on your cruise clothes. Check thrift shops for some of the brands you want to buy. That's what we did when we went to Europe for 21 days. After that many days we didn't want to wear those clothes again!

If your first stop is Ketchikan, the women's raincoats are very reasonable and are in stores all over town.

14 hours ago, gtaylor said:

Thank you for this information.

 

Did not realize that NCL docked way over there, as opposed to downtown.

 

Thanks,

 

gary

We were on Carnival so were right downtown. Check on Trip Adviser for reccomendations. Have a great time. Love the Southern Caribbean!

We stayed at a Courtyard that was not real close to the port but fairly reasonable and safe.. Our friends stayed at the Hotel Plaza de Armas which is walking distance to the port. It is an old hotel that was reasonable and safe. They also took a food walking tour which was close to the hotel.

I had an ankle injury off a RC ship and had the medical clinic treat me. I was not impressed at all with their care especially the sterile part. The medical staff are from all over the world and have different opinions of correct care. I would learn how to do it yourself and only use the clinic for an emergency. If you do use the clinic watch them very carefully and demand a sterile situation.

One cruise we forgot deodorant and bought some on the ship. What we would normally pay a few dollars for at home was $7.95 on the ship! Sunscreen is also expensive on the ship. That's why we sometimes go to Walmart in PV or Cancun.

My husband has balance problems and the last time we were in Venice, he had a very hard time getting on and off the water taxis without falling. I have heard there are a few hotels you can get to from the airport without using a water taxi, which is what we will do if we ever cruise from Venice again.

Have stayed at Hotel Playa and been to Leftys at Stone Island. Stone Island is right there by the port. You get on the tram at the ship, walk through the port shops and turn right. Walk past the park and walk on a dirt road where you will see a small dock area to buy a ticket ($4 I think) and go across to Stone Island. It's a short walk to the beach and there will be a sign for Leftys. Order drinks and/or food and you can use the lounge chairs as long as you want for no extra cost. Hotel Playa is on the other side of town and there is a day charge plus taxi both ways. Either way have a great time!

Was there in December. Outside the port building are buses you can take to town for $3.00 roundtrip. While on the bus, they will tell you about their excursions you can add on for way less than excursions with the ship. We took the one to see Balfora and I think it was $17 US each. It took about 5 hours. Not real exciting but you get to see the countryside with a 45 minute ride one way. Once there, there is a huge flea market and at the end a small geyser that comes up in a hole in the rocks. Otherwise you get off the bus and it's a two block walk to the main street. Felt safe in town and on the excursion. Have fun.

We have stayed at this Best Western. We arrived at 9 pm and were able to get seats on the shuttle for the next day. Our room was quiet as it didn't face the street. Thought the free breakfast was good. Would stay there again especially if we were coming in at night.

I couldn't get them to come up.

We stayed at the Garden Inn right by the parking garage and used the free shuttle bus at the parking garage. It was easier than trying to find the walking entrance.

I love the chocolate melting cake and room service has delicious chocolate cake. The rest of the desserts are so so. My husband loves Guy's burgers and I love the tacos. Good salsa but no chips so we take our own. My favorite thing to do in Ensenada is to take pesos and go to a local bakery (don't take US$), off the main street for wonderful goodies.

Royal's policy has been to offer the "free" lobster in the MDR on one night on cruises based out of the US that are 5 nights and longer.

We were on a six night Vision cruise to the Greek Isles in November 2016 and there was no lobster in the MDR. Lobster was available at Chops for an extra fee.

I agree that the desserts look better than they taste. A few years ago I did have a good chocolate cake at Giovanni's. Of all the cruise lines we've been on, the Carnival ones have been the tastiest. My DH usually orders a fruit plate for dessert. I like the idea of getting a dessert from the children's menu.

When I was on Grand Turk, I heard RCCL is trying to get permission to build a pier on another side of the island but the island residents are fighting it. They feel the island is too small for any more ships to visit.

Our granddaughter loves to cruise with us and especially likes the towel animal each evening. When we went on Princess, she wanted to go until I told her there weren't any towel animals!

We have started booking our cruises with our auto club. We usually get extra OBC from them and a bottle of champagne, along with no booking fees. The only other time I used a TA we paid booking fees.

We were on the Navigator for Thanksgiving four years ago. Our MDR table was concerned about the menu for that day and they brought us the menu the night before. No yams were on the menu and the chef made some specially for our table. They try to make an authentic Thanksgiving meal but there are few American chefs. We enjoyed the meal, including the turkey and pumpkin pie. I enjoyed not having to prepare Thanksgiving dinner!

My doctor said she uses 1/2 a patch behind the ear with no side effects. One of my friends had hallucinations the last time she used the patch which was scary. Bonine and/or ginger works for me. The sea bands work for my husband. Hope you find something that works for you without side effects.

You do not need to reserve a shuttle at the LGB airport. There is a shuttle booth across the street in front of the car rentals which has shuttle drivers waiting. It cost us $25.00 for two to go to the Long Beach cruise terminal. The shuttle driver will give you his card and you can call him for the return to the airport for the same price.

Two years ago we were on HAL for a Mexican Rivera cruise and on gala nights men that didn't have on ties or jackets were given them to wear or told not come into the MDR. Last year on HAL in Alaska even gala nights were more casual, with no jackets or ties handed out.

Good review. We have done the Montreal to Boston route Masdam. We like the information given on the ship before you arrive at a port including entertainment and food. For PEI and Sydney we rented a car with a woman we met on roll call. We enjoyed being able to venture out on our own. In Bar Harbor we went on a non ship bus tour and the bus driver was very good at getting us to Cadillac Mountain when the fog broke for awhile. Have wonderful memories of this trip.

If you don't think you'll wear a fleece jacket that much check a thrift store in your area. You can usually find good name brands at a good price and then you don't have to feel guilty if you don't wear it very often. When I went on an Alaska cruise last May, I took a long sleeved fleece shirt, hooded zipper sweatshirt and a pullover raincoat so I could layer. Plenty warm enough even when outside on the balcony going around the glacier. Don't forget gloves and a warm hat. Have a great cruise next year.